Your dog is ... well, a dog, and you are a human. He chases people and barks at them when they pass in front of your house and you don’t. You wave. You have your behaviors and manners, while your pup has thousands of years of instinct guiding his reactions.
Defending His Territory
Your family pooch is doing what's ingrained in him. He's guarding his territory and alerting you that something is up. Hopefully, he isn’t doing much more than barking and chasing, or you may have some upset neighbors visiting you.
When your canine barks and chases someone as he defends you and your property, he’s treating that person like an intruder. In short, he’s going to say say, “You’re on my property, person! Leave before I chase and take a chunk outta you!”
Not all dogs will bite. They will just make themselves sound mean. Some dogs bark, other dogs chase and still others will attack.
New Person Alert
Your pup doesn’t know this until you teach him -- but there is good barking and bad barking. Good barking is the kind that lets you know you have an intruder, or at least your dog wants you to think of the person as an intruder. The size of the dog doesn’t have to influence the effectiveness of the bark, either. The bark of a Chihuahua can be as effective as that of a Rottweiler, as long as it gets your attention.
Of course, your dog may simply be expressing his curiosity. Once he smells the newcomer, if he hasn’t chased him away, he’ll flop onto the lawn and relax again.
Predatory by Nature
Dogs are descendants of wolves, who are predatory animals. This means he’s going to feel that urge to chase and he’s going to give in to it. Regardless of whether that stranger is your old Uncle Victor, the neighbor from up the street or the mailman, his instincts go into high gear and he will act on them.
Instinct or not, your dog should only chase certain people away, after alerting you to their presence. An effective dog obedience trainer can help you teach him not to chase after everyone.
Potentially Dangerous Behavior
Dog plus car equals tragedy. An excited dog who's following his instinct will not see or pay attention to the car coming down the road. If he runs out from between cars, he will surprise the driver, who won’t be able to stop in time. It's never a good idea to allow your dog to chase humans walking along the road. Dog flesh, bones and muscles are no match for metal, rubber and the weight of a vehicle, so finding a qualified dog obedience instructor to help you train your family canine member not to chase is the most loving thing you can do for him.
References
Writer Bio
Genevieve Van Wyden began writing in 2007. She has written for “Tu Revista Latina” and owns three blogs. She has worked as a CPS social worker, gaining experience in the mental-health system. Van Wyden earned her Bachelor of Arts in journalism from New Mexico State University in 2006.